phillips



Dec. 24, 1929.

\P. D. PHILLIPS WIRELESS CLUSTER Filed Aug. 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 24, 1929. P. D. PHILLIPS WIRELESS CLUSTER 3 Sheet sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1926 QM a o z zq Dec. 24, 1929. P. D. PHILLIPS 11,740,956

' WIRELESS cLusTmi I 3Sh eets-Sheet FWg. 4, 1926 Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL PHILLIPS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS WIRELESS CLUSTER Application filed August 4, 1926.

My invention relates to what is commonly known as a pull-chain wireless cluster comprising a plurality of lamp receptacles with independent switch mechanisms and adapted to be mounted on a stand or base and provided with attaching means for securing a shade to the upper end thereof.

My invention consists, generally stated, in the novel arrangement, construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth and described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple and eflicient wireless cluster provided with a central passageway through which the wires are drawn and the ends thereof fastened to their respective terminals at points remote from the operating mechanism, so that there will be no danger of the 1 operating mechanism being distorted or displaced by the screw driver used for connecting the wires to the terminal screws, which is often the case in devices of this type now on the market. With my improved type of wireless cluster the numerous holes usually extending through the insulating base for wiring the cluster are eliminated and only one hole is provided in the base through which the two wires extend for making the .necessary connections to their respective terminal screws.

A further object of my invention is to provide a contact member, one end of which is engaged by the contactor of the switch and the other end of which extends through the insulating base connecting the same to the casing and its parts, and the lower end thereof is bent inward to form the center contact for the incandescent light when the same is screwed into the receptacle.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a contacting member which eliminates several parts customarily used in structures of this type, and one which has a double function in that it acts as the pawl for a switch spring ratchet and also as an electric current carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap which is held in a novel man- "ner in the interior of the casing, and which,

Serial No. 126,964.

in addition to providing rigidity to the casing and a convenient and stable anchorage for the pipe bushing, holds the metal sleeves which surround the screw shells in place without any other fastening means.

A further object of the invention is to provide the screw shells with a connector for holding the same in position in the insulating sleeves and preventing their rotation; this connector is engaged by a screw extending through the insulating base for holding the same in the casing, and said screw provides a current path from the screw shells to the terminal wire adapted to be attached to the head thereof.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved wireless cluster assembled;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same on the line 22 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the cluster with the cap removed;

Fig. 4 is a like view of the casing with the cap, the insulating base and switch mechanism removed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and shows the ratchet switch device providing the make and break contact for one of the receptacles;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the ratchet switch device with the engagement of the contact and contactor broken;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken the attaching lip on the cap flange engaging the opening in the upper part of the casing, said section being taken on the line l010 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 11 is a dismantled or exploded view of the several parts constituting each of the ratchet switch devices.

In each of the figures of the drawing like reference characters indicate like parts.

The cluster is contained in a casing 13, which is cup-shaped, and provided with a plurality of circular openings let, through which metal sleeves 16 are adapted to extend, and each ofsaid sleeves is provided with an inner flange 17 which rests on the material surrounding the opening in said casing. An insulating sleeve 18 extends through each of the metal sleeves 16 and projects at its front end a short distance therefrom, and the rear end thereof is provided with a flange 19, which rests upon the metal surrounding the openings 20 in a metal strap 21 which is formed to fit the inside contour of the casing 13, and is h ld in position by the star-punching 22 on the inner end of the bushing 23 which extends through the opening 24 in the center of the bottom of the casing. This bushing is pro Vided with threads 26 in the central opening 0 extending through the same for fastening the said cluster to a stand or base, as desired. A screw shell 27 extends into the insulating sleevelS and is provided with cut-out portions 28, while the outer ends of the material comprising said shell are bent inwardat right angles to the wall thereof to form inner end flanges 29. The cutaway portions 28 are adapted to receive an insulating plate 31, whose outer ends rest against the inner flanges 19 of the insulating sleeve so as to retain the said sleeve at all times in its outermost position. A bridge member 32 extends between the screw shells 27 and has upturned portions 33 connected to the flanges 29 on the inner end of the screw shells by suitable screws 34, which extend through the insulating plate 31, or if desired the said memhere may be connected by eyelets; said member 32 thus holds the insulating sleeve 18 and screw shell 27 at their outermost positions in the sleeve 16-at all times, while at the center of said bridge member there is an offset portion 36 having a threaded hole 37 therein for receiving a screw 38 which extends through an opening 39 in the insulating base 41.

The insulating base is substantially circular in shape and has recesses 42 and d3 adapted to receive switch mechanisms a l and 46, and said mechanisms are mounted on a common shaft 47, while that portion of said shaft, between the said mechanisms, extends through a passageway 48 which connects the recesses l2 and 43 and its ends are housed in recesses 45.

The entire switch mechanisms are made as a unit, assembled and slipped into the recesses provided in the base, and need no screws or other fastening means for securing them therein, as later explained.

The periphery of the base 41 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite U-- shaped flanges all), which extend into the U- shaped openings 51 in the upper end of the casing 13, and these flanges form passages 52 providing smooth and unobstructed portions over which chains 53 are adapted to extend for operating the ratchet switch mechanisms and if).

Each of the switch mechanisms comprises a pair of insulating discs 5% between which is a disc 56 of smaller diameter so that the peripheries of the discs 54 provide a circumferential groove 57 between the san'le, in which the chain 53 rests, and the three discs are fas tened together in their centers by an eyelet 58, through the center of which the shaft i7 extends. The discs 54; are provided with a pair of substantially diametrically opposite adial solts 59 and ('31 and a hook-member (32 has its inner end resting in a transverse slot 63 in the central disc 56 and its wing portions ea extending into openings (36 in the arms 67 of the discs 54, and the chain 53 is held in the slot 68 in said hook-member and the combined discs are rotated by pulling upon said chain.

Surrounding that portion of the shaft ;.7 between the switch mechanisms is a spiral spring 69 which has its ends bent outwardly as 71, and these ends are adapted to extend through the openings 59 in the discs Fll and into corresponding openings in the center of the discs 56 and said spring provides tension against the action of the chain 53 when the same is pulled to switch the lamp (not shown) on and off.

A frame 72 extends across that portion of the base included between the recesses 42 and 43 and has a depending leg 73 at each end thereof which extends into said recesses while the lower end of each leg is slotted as at 7+1; so that it may straddle the shaft -l7. This peculiar construction is provided in order that when the switch mechanisms are positioned on the shaft i7 and wound so as to provide the required amount of tension on the spring 69, the wound mechanisms can be slipped into place in the frame 72 and the in sulating member 91, will hold the parts together ,while the discs will he lin'iited in their movement by the arms 67 striking against said frame. The legs 73 have an irregular shaped opening above the slots 7 +1: which permits the insulating member 76 to be passed therethrough and turned to lit against the upper part of the frame 72 while the reduced ends 77 on said insulating member extend through said openings and lit into recesses 78 and 79 adjacent the recesses 42 and i3, respectively, to properly position the frame and ratchet switch mechanisms 4-4: and 46.

A contact member 81 shown in the exploded View of Fig. 11 has an opening 32 at the upper end thereof for fitting onto the reduced portion 77 of the insulating member 76, and the Eli upper portion of said member is substantially semi-circular in shape with an inwardly extending lip 83 extending therefrom while the semi-circular portion 8 1 to "inmates in a downwardly extending leg 86 which extends through the opening 87 at the bottom of the recesses 42 and 43 and through openings 88 in the insulating plate 31 where it is bent against said plate to form a center contact 89 for the lamp (not shown) when same is screwed into the shell 22. By using this member for a center contact for the lamp (not shown) by bending the lower end of same against the plate 31, the switch mechanisms 44 and 16, and consequently the base 11, are secured to the casin 13, and while 1 have shown the screw 38 extending into the offset portion 36 of the brid e member 32 and have described one of its uses as that of holding the base in the using, this particular function is merely incidental, as it is self evident that when the contacts are bent as above described the parts will be effectually united although the inclusion of the screw 38 will relieve them of any strain. This contact member 81 rests between the outer wall of the recess and on its inner side against an insulat 'ing member 91, which has an opening92 in the upper end thereof, fitting over the reduced end 77 of the insulating member 76, while the lower end thereof is provided with a hole 93 and through which the shaft 17 extends. This hole 93 acts as a bearing for the said shaft and positions and holds the ratchet switch mechanisms 14 and 46 the tance from the flat surface of ...e L and the downwardly extending leg 73 or the said frame rests against the inner face of the said insulating member 91. A contactor 91 is mounted on the shaft l? between the oute disc 54, and the depending leg "Z3 of the frame 7 2, with which it maintains electrical contact, and the hole 96 in said contactor tits on said shaft. This member 94 has a broad arcuate portion 97 with an outwardly extending tip 98 and a narrow arcuate portion 99 having its end'hent inwardly to form a pawl 100, which engages with the slots 59 and 61 in the disc 54:, for providing the step by step ratched mechanisms, later explained, while the outwardly extending tip 98 is adapted to intermittently extend into the depression lOl of the contact member 81, as later explained. The frame has an car 102 at one side of the same and which extends into a square recess 103 in the base 41, and said ear is provided with a hole 104, through which a screw 106 extends andengages the nut 107 which is prevented from turning by reason of the shape of said recess, and one of the terminal wires 108 is attached to the said ear under the head of said screw. The other terminal wire 109 is connected under the head of the screw 38 which extends into the offset portion 36 of the connector bar 32, and the terminal mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 0,.

wires 108 and 109 are extended downwardly through the opening 111 in the base 41, and through the central opening in the bush ing 23.

Between the upper portion of the frame '2' 2 and the insulating member 76 is a sheet of insulating material 7 5 which has wing portions extending outwardly in opposite directions from the ends thereof and at right angles to the central portion, and said wing portions are adapted to form covers for the passages 52 through which the chains 53 ex tend to prevent said chains from coming in contact with any of the metal parts ins-aid switch and thus short-circuiting or otherwise injuring the same.

In the recesses 12 and 43 and in the end opposits to where the chain 53 merges through the passage 52 a slot 112 forming a wall 113 must which the outwardly extending tip 98 the arcuate portion 97 of the contactor 94 is adapted to rest to prevent its rotation with the discs 54 when the same are being actuated by as spring 69, as later explained.

A metal cap 11d extends over the casing 13 and has a flange 116 extending around said casing and. said flange terminates in a curled bead 117. The flange has a pair of small slits 118 in the material forming the same, and the material below'said slits is pressed inwardly to form a lip 119 which rests against the material at the upper side of holes 121 out or punched in the upper part of the casing, and the other side of the said flange has a slot 122 in the same which extends over a set screw 123 which is screwed into the casing 13 and into the strap 21 therein so that when the said lips 119 engage the material of the holes 121 and the slot 122 extends around the screw 123, ant the said screw is tightened against the material around the said slot, the head 11? will prevent the cap from being removed from the said casing. In the upper fiat portion 124 of the cap are pressed-in portions 126 which lit into holes 127 in the plate 128 on the inner side of said flat portion, and a stud 129 has its hollow inner end 131 fitting through said flat portion and through a central hexagonal opening 132 in said plate, and the in ner end of said stud is star-punched as at 133 in order to fasten the said plate securely against the said flat portion, and saidstud is retained against rotation by reason of the portions l26-extending into the holes 127 of the said plate. This stud 129 provides means over which a shade support (not shown) may be secured by a suitable nut (not shown) engaging with said stud.

Having thus described the parts and construction of my improved wireless cluster, I will now explain the operation of the ratchet switch mechanism employed therein.

Let us consider the parts of the switch with the outwardly extending tip 98 on the All. 3.

contact 9 1 resting in the depression 101 in the contact member 81. If the chain 53 is pulled, the discs 5 1 will be rotated on the shaft 47 and the pawl 100 will drop into the slot 61 so that the cont-actor 94 will be rotated with said discs and the outwardly e2;- tendingtip 98 thereof will slide around on the semi-circular portion 84 of the contact member 81 until it reaches the lip 83 thereon, when it will spring outwardly as itleaves the same and thus breakthe electrical connection between the said contact member and said contactor, and thus the parts will be pulled into the position shown in Fig. 7. with the arms 67 in the position shown in said figure.

When the chain 53 is released, the spring 69 on the shaft 47, by reason of the outwardly extending portion 71 extendinn into tl slots in the discs 54 and 56, will return the said discs to the position shown in Figs. 6. but the outwardly extending tip on the cont ctor having; swung outwardlv from its en ment with the lip 83 ot the contactor. strikes against the wall 118 of the slot 112 and thus the said contactor remains in the position shown in Fig". 7, and the pawl 100 disengan es itself from the slot 61 and upon the return of the said disc 54 drops into and engages the slot 59. As the chain 53 is again pulled. the disc 54: will again be rotated and the pawl 100 resting; in the slot 59, the contactor 9t will be rotated on the shaft 47. and the broad arcuate portion 97 with the outwardly extending tip 98 passed under the depeuningz 73 of the frame 7 2 until the said ti p passes completely under the same and attain drops into the depression 101 in the contact memher 81. as shown in Fi 6. thus again completin the electrical connection between the said contact member and said contactor.

will readily be seen that in my improved wireless cluster an electrical circuit will he established from the terminal wire 109, through the screw 38. the connector bar the screw shell 27. through the lamp filament (not shown), thence through the center contact 89. the contact member 81. the contactor 94-. the frame 72. the ear 102 thereof, and then through the terminal wire 108 secured to said car by the screw 106.

The contactor 94-, besides acting as such, provides a make and break device cooper i. no; wit-l the discs 54 so to eliminate separate parts usually employed for these Functions.

he opening 111 in the insulating base 11 provides a passageway for the terminal 108 and 109 from the bushing 23 so that the cap 114 removed from the casing 13, the ends of said terminal wires can be bent under the heads of the screws 38 and 106 and thus at the upper side of the holes 121 in the easing, and the screw 123 screwed down onto the metal around the slot 122, the head 11'?" will prevent the cap from being removed, and the shade support (not shown) may now be attached to the stud 129 and secured thereto in the usual manner.

If it is desired to use the device as a depending cluster for a dome or ceiling;- fixture, the stud 129 and its holdingmeans may be omitted and the device connected by its bushing 23 in which case the lamps when screwed into the shell receptacles will extend upward or the bushing may be placed in the cap where the stud 129 is shown in which event the lar'ips will extend downwardly, as in a floor or stand lamp.

While I have shownv the casing; provided with the metal. strap 21, which incidentally holds the metallic sleeves 16 and prevents lon gritudinal movement thereof, it will be apparent that when the metal oi? the casing! is suiliciently heavy the strap may be eliminated in which case the inner flange 19 of the insulatin sleeve 18 will rest upon the flange 17 ot the metal sleeve 16 and both will. he held in position by the plate 31 which this under the inner flanges 19 ot the screw shells and ainslr the flange on the said insulating: sleet This construction sometimes used and has been found to be both practical and economical.

d hile 1 have shown and described a pie terred embodiment oil my invention. it will be understood that the details oi construction are capable of wide modification and variation without departing from the s the invention or sacrificing: any oi its adv ntages. Therefore, I. reserve all such var2utions, modifications. and mechanical equivalents as fall within the spirit and purview of the appended claims.

I claim 1. l pull switch chit-atmcomprising :1 cos inn. a plurality of; opening therein adapled to receive met; llic leeves, i'lan rcs on said sleev t liner 'lace oi the casi in casino. coniorminp; our thereol and adapted to en- ;ragre the flanges on said sleeves to hold them in place in 1id openings, and means tor securing); said strap to said cs1.

2. i l pull switch cluster compi 'singr :1 casing, a. plurality ot openings therein adapted to receive metallic sleeves. thingies on said sleeves bearing against the inner tare ol the casing, a strap within the c sine; minim-min to the contour thereot and adapted to engage. the flanges on said sleeves to hold them, in place in said openings. a bottom h le in said is h a hole in said us ng,

3. A pull chain cluster comprising :1 cas- Lil two inentimwd ill) ing, a plurality of openings therein insulating sleeves in said opening having out-turned flanges on the inner ends thereof, screw shells extending into said sleeves and having inturned flanges at the inner ends thereof, and means adapted to flt under said shell flanges and to extend over said sleeve flanges to prevent their removal through said openings.

4. A pull chain cluster comprising a casing, a plurality of openings therein insulating sleeves in said opening having out-turned flanges on the inner ends thereof, screw shells extending into said sleeves and having in turned flanges at the inner ends thereof, and an insulating plate adapted to fit under said shell flanges'and to extend over said sleeve flanges to prevent their removal through said openings.

5. A switch assembly comprising a frame having depending legs, insulating and positioning means on said frame, a shaft, a plurality of ratchet members on said shaft, means surrounding said shaft and engaging said ratchet members for normally retaining them in a fixed position, and means engaging said insulating means and said shaft for positioning said ratchet members in said frame.

6. A switch assembly comprising a frame having depending legs, insulating and positioning means on said frame, a shaft, a plu rality of ratchet members on said shaft, a spiral spring surrounding said shaft and engaging said ratchet members for normally retaining them in a fixed position; and means engaging said insulating means and said shaft for positioning said ratchet members in said frame.

7. A switch assembly comprising a frame having depending legs, insulating and positioning means on said frame, a shaft, a plurality of ratchet members on said shaft, a spiral spring surrounding said shaft and engaging said ratchet members for normally retaining them in a fixed position, and an insulating member engaging said insulating means and said shaft for positioning said ratchet members in said frame.

8. A pull switch cluster comprising a casing, a plurality of openings therein adapted to receive receptacles, consisting of insulating sleeves having outward flanges on the inner ends thereof, and screw shells extending into said sleeves and having inturned flanges at the inner ends thereof, means adapted to fit under said shell flanges and against said sleeve flanges to prevent their removal through said openings, a sub-assembly comprising a base, a switch mechanism for each receptacle mounted on said base, said mechanism having a step-by-step contactor, and a contact arm adapted to be contacted by said contactor and extending through said base and said means and into said receptacle to form the center contact for the lamp.

9. A pull switch cluster comprising a casing, a plurality of lamp receptacles thereon, a sub-assembly comprising a base, a switch mechanism for each receptacle mounted on said base, each of said mechanisms comprising an oscillatory member, a contactor adapted to be operated thereby in a stepby-step movement, and a contact arm adapted to be contacted by said contactor, said arm extending through said baseand into said receptacle to form the center contact for the lamp and to hold the switch mechanism in said base.

\ 10. A pull switch cluster comprising a casing, a plurality of lamp receptacles thereon, a sub-assembly comprising a base, a switch mechanism for each receptacle mounted on a common shaft in said base, each of said mechanisms comprising an oscillatory member, a contactor adapted to be operated thereby in a step-by-step movement, and a contact arm adapted to be contacted by said contactor, said arm extending through said base and into said receptacle to form the center contact for the lamp.

11. A pull chain cluster comprising a casing, a plurality of lamp receptacles thereon, a subassembly comprising a base; a switch mechanism for each receptacle mounted on a common shaft in said base, said mechanism comprising an oscillatory member, a member having two arcuate arms, one of which engages the oscillatory member for being operated in a step-by-step movement and the other of which acts as a contactor, and a contact arm adapted to be contacted by the arcuate contactor.

12. A pull switch cluster comprising a casing, a plurality of lamp receptacles thereon, a sub-assembly comprising a base, a switch mechanism for each receptacle mounted on a common shaft in said base, a spring surrounding said shaft and having its ends connected to said mechanisms, each of said mechanisms comprising an oscillatory member, a contactor adapted to be operated thereby in a step-by-step movement, and a contact arm adapted to be contacted by said contactor, said arm extending through said base and into said receptacle to form the center contact for the lamp.

13. A pull chain cluster comprising a casing, a plurality of lamp receptacles thereon, a sub-assembly comprising a base, a switch mechanism for each receptacle mounted on a common shaft in said base, a spring surrounding said shaft and having its ends connected to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising an oscillatory member, a member having two arcuate arms, one of which engages the oscillatory member for being operated in a step-by step movement, and the other of which acts as a contactor, and a contact arm adapted to be contacted by the arcuate contactor.

14. In combination with a casing, a lamp receptacle comprising a metallic sleeve, a flange on the inner end of said sleeve engaging the metal of the casing, an insulating sleeve within said metallic sleeve and having an out-turned flange on the inner end thereof, a screw shell within the insulating sleeve having inturned flanges, and a plate adapted to fit under the inturned flanges of the screw shell and to extend over the flange on the insulating sleeve to hold the parts in position.

15. A lamp receptacle comprising a casing having asleeve portion, an insulating sleeve in said sleeve portion, having an out-turned flange thereon adapted to rest against the metal of said casing, a screw shell within the insulating sleeve having inturned flanges, and a plate adapted to fit under the inturned flanges of the screw shell and to extend over the flange on the insulating sleeve.

16. A pull switch cluster comprising a casing, a base, and a switch mechanism, said mechanism having a frame, an insulating member extending thereunder and having fingers for positioning said switch mechanism in said base, contact members mounted on said fingers and extending through openings in said base for removably holding said mechanism in said base.

17. A pull switch cluster comprising a casing, a base, and a switch mechanism, said mechanism consisting of a frame, an insulating member extending thereunder and having fingers for positioning said frame in said base, switch units mounted on a common shaft, an insulating plate at each end of said mechanism forming bearings for said shaft and supported by said fingers, contact members mounted on said fingers and extending through openings in said base for removably holding said mechanism in said base.

18. A pull chain cluster comprising a cas ing, a plurality of lamp receptacles thereon, a sub-assembly comprising a base, a switch mechanism for each receptacle mounted on a common shaft in said base, a spring surrounding said shaft and having its ends connected to said mechanisms, each of said mechanisms comprising an oscillatory member, a member having two arcuate arms, one of which engages the oscillatory member for being operated in a step-by-step movement, and the other of which acts as a contactor, and a contact arm adapted to be contacted by the arcuate contactor, said contact having an extension thereon extending into said recepgaclllp to form the center contact for a light In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

PAUL D. PHILLIPS. 

